Source : Perth Now news
A new community dental clinic in West Leederville that provides free and low-cost dental treatment to vulnerable West Australians is calling on reinforcements to join its team and make a difference to those facing barriers to essential oral healthcare.
The clinic, established by the Uniting Smiles charity in partnership with Palmerston, is in George Davies House, Palmerston’s community hub for recovery and wellbeing.
It is intended to provide care to adults experiencing social disadvantage, including people impacted by homelessness, financial hardship, mental health challenges, and alcohol and other drug dependency.
Uniting Smiles board director Amanda Phoon Nguyen said the clinic was created to address a gap in Perth’s dental charity services. Dentists who were willing to volunteer did not have a dedicated location where they could provide the care.
“Dentists were wanting to volunteer, but if they didn’t own their own clinic, it was difficult to know where they could do that,” she said.
Uniting Smiles fundraised to establish the clinic and secured support to built it in partnership with Palmerston Association.
Dr Phoon Nguyen said the new facility brings together dental professionals, charity organisations and community health services in one location.
“Dentists now have a place to volunteer and organisations have a place to bring their patients,” she said.
Dr Phoon Nguyen said the location was important, describing the accessibility and connection to Palmerston’s existing services as a “match made in heaven”.
The clinic has officially opened, with its first patients booked to begin treatment next month.
Patients will need to be either referred through a case manager or an organisation they are already connected with.
Patients will not be charged for treatment, with dental materials and other costs being covered through donations, Uniting Smiles funding and grants.
The clinic is initially expected to operate on weekdays for about two days a week, depending on patient bookings and the availability of volunteers.
Dr Phoon Nguyen said the charity hoped to eventually open the clinic every day as more dental professionals volunteered.
The service is currently calling out for dentists, dental professionals and dental assistants willing to volunteer.
Dr Phoon Nguyen said while regular volunteers would help provide continuity of care, the charity was willing to be flexible with the commitment required.
“We can definitely be flexible,” she said.
“Even things like spreading the word or if you can’t volunteer now, you know, letting your colleague know things like that, it all helps as well.”
The clinic will initially focus on emergency dental treatment, helping patients who have been waiting for care and getting people out of pain.
The long-term goal is to eventually provide more preventative and ongoing dental treatment for patients.
A fixed located clinic will enable patients to return for multiple appointments, rather than relying solely on one-off emergency treatment.
Dr Phoon Nguyen said dental care could be difficult to access even for people who hold a Medicare card, and the clinic was intended to remove the financial barrier created from needing to pay for gaps.
The clinic will primarily cater for adults, but Dr Phoon Nguyen said children could be considered on a case-by-case basis as existing paediatric dental services are available.
She said previous barriers included uncertainty around insurance, equipment, supplies and who would assist volunteer dentists.
“The charity clinic aims to remove all of those barriers,” she said.
Dental professionals who want to know more can contact Uniting Smiles on its website or on social media.
“Don’t feel like anything is too small,” Dr Phoon Nguyen said.
“We’re always happy to have a chat.”
